Leela Omchery Explained

Leela Omchery
Birth Date:1929 5, df=y
Birth Place:Thiruvattar, Kanyakumari district, Travancore, India
Occupation:Singer, musicologist, writer
Spouse:Omchery N. N. Pillai
Children:2, including Deepti Omchery Bhalla
Website:http://leelaomchery.org
Awards:Padmashri
Kendra Sangeet Natak Academy Award
Marunaadan Malayaali Award
Fellow – Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi
Sangeeta Kulapathi
Sangeet Kovida
Kalaacharya
Sangeeta Sarva Bhouma

Leela Omchery (31 May 1929 – 1 November 2023) was an Indian classical singer, musicologist and writer. She is known for her contributions to classical music and was a recipient of the Padma Shri award from the Government of India for her contributions to Indian classical dance and music.[1]

Early life

Leela Omchery was born on 31 May 1929 in Mankoyikkal tharavdu in Thiruvattar in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu to Parameswara Kurup and Lakshmikutty Amma.[2] She started learning music from an early age under a Karnatic music guru, Thiruvattar Arumugham Pillai Bhagavathar, along with her younger brother, the late Kamukara Purushothaman, a classical and playback singer in Malayalam.[3] Hailing from a family of musicians, she had the opportunity to hone her musical talents under the guidance of her grandmother and mother who were musicians in their own right.

After early schooling in Kanyakumari, she obtained a graduate degree in Carnatic music from Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram and continued her studies in Hindustani music at Punjab University, obtaining another graduate degree. Her Master's degree came from Meerut University and she got her PhD in music from Delhi University.[4]

Career

Leela Omchery was working as a Professor in Kamukara School of Music, Dance and Research Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and as Professor and Principal of Trikalaa Gurukulam in Delhi.[5]

Omchery was the President of Dakshina Bharati (a south Indian Women’s Organization) and Vice President of Swaralaya, Delhi.

Omchery was an accredited Supervisor and Guide to Ph.D and M.Phil candidates from various universities including Delhi, Kerala, Calicut, Baroda, Nalanda, and Mumbai. She was also a member of the Selection Board of AIR, Doordarshan, ICCR, IGNCA, SNA (Delhi), the Ministry of Culture and IGNOU.

Omchery also worked as the Associate Professor and Head, Karnatak Music Section, Faculty of Music & Fine Arts, University of Delhi (1964–1994). She served as Editorial Staff of Indian Music Journal, Vageeshwari, (1975–1994).

Omchery also wrote some short stories.

Personal life and death

Omchery was married to writer Omchery N. N. Pillai and resided in New Delhi. The couple had two children, S.D. Omchery and Deepti Omchery Bhalla, a classical dancer.

Leela Omchery died on 1 November 2023, at the age of 94.[6]

Works

English

Title Publisher Year
Indian Music and Allied Arts (5 volumes) Sandeep Prakashan, Delhi 1990
Gleanings in Indian Music Sandeep Prakashan, Delhi 1991
Immortals of Indian Music Gyan Books, Delhi 1998

Malayalam

Title Publisher Year
Abhinaya Sangeetham Bhasha Institute, Kerala 1981
Paadavum Padhavum D.C. Books, Kerala
Keralathile Laasya Rachanakal D.C. Books, Kerala 2003
Chinakkara Koothu Paattukal Mudra Books, Delhi 2008
Leela Omcheriyude Pathangal Poorna Books, Kerala 2009
Karuna Cheyvanenthu Thamsam Krishna D.C. Books, Kerala 2011
Vettam Mangiya Kovil Paattukal Poorna Books, Kerala 2012

On Other Topics

She is also credited with over 200 published articles.

Awards and recognitions

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Padma Awards . Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India . 2015 . July 21, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf . 15 October 2015 .
  2. News: 2023-11-01 . ഡോ. ലീലാ ഓംചേരി അന്തരിച്ചു . en . 2023-11-02.
  3. Web site: Archived copy . 2 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140502191147/http://www.indiaclub.com/shop/AuthorSelect.asp?Author=Leela+Omchery . 2 May 2014 . dead .
  4. Web site: Academic Record | PROF. DR. LEELA OMCHERY . 2 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150120120617/http://leelaomchery.org/academic-record/ . 20 January 2015 . dead .
  5. Web site: Career | PROF. DR. LEELA OMCHERY . 2 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140520214848/http://leelaomchery.org/career/ . 20 May 2014 . dead .
  6. https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=1180328&u=leela-omchery-classical-music-pioneer-dies-aged-94 Leela Omchery, classical music pioneer dies aged 94
  7. Web site: Classical Music. Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. 24 February 2023.